The UK's bestChildren's Seesaws2022 Review

One of the most important things to consider when buying a seesaw is what age range it is suitable for.

When shopping online it can be hard to tell how big an item is, so checking the size specifications from the manufacturer, as well as online reviews, can be very valuable.

Whilst manufacturers often put a recommended age range on their seesaws, the upper age limit is often a bit high. Manufacturers may make their ‘age range’ statements based on the weight that the seesaw can hold, instead of the height of the child. Therefore, if a seesaw states that it is suitable for 3 – 10 year olds, you should check that it is really an appropriate size for children older than 7. It may be too low for them.

In general, it is probably best to assume that a seesaw that is deemed suitable for a 3-year-old will be too small for a 10-year-old. If your children are older than 7, you may be better off looking for a seesaw which is appropriate for children aged 7+.

Of course, this can make it harder for families with children of various ages.

There are smaller, plastic rocker/seesaws that are appropriate for toddlers aged 1 – 3. You may have to consider buying one of these for younger children, and a bigger model for older children that can be used when friends come round.

At the end of the day, it comes down to this: if you get a seesaw that is too small for your child, they may not use it much because their feet will always be touching the ground (making it a little boring). Therefore, it’s a good idea to shop around to find a model that offers a good solution for all children.

General Design

Depending on the age of your child, you might be looking for a traditional seesaw, or a ‘rocker’ design.

‘Rocker’ seesaws are small and generally appropriate for toddlers. They tilt backwards and forwards much like a traditional rocking horse. Some of the best children’s seesaws in this style will have an additional central seat meaning they can be used by one child alone as well as two children together.

Then there are the traditional seesaws which are generally more appropriate for children aged 3+. They can come in various sizes and some bigger ones are only appropriate for older children.

Within the category of ‘classic seesaws’ there are also rotating seesaws. These can be spun around by children, as well as moved up and down. The benefits and disadvantages of this design are outlined below.

Rotating or Traditional Seesaws

Seesaws no longer only go up and down, you can now find ones with a spinning axis as well.

Your choice will predominantly come down to personal preference and the preference of your child; however, there are a couple of things to bear in mind:

• Rotating seesaws require more space – you will need to keep the radius of the seesaw clear of obstacles.
• Rotating seesaws can be more challenging for younger children – it is sometimes more difficult for them to hold on as there are different directional forces at work (side-to-side and up-and-down simultaneously!).
• You may get better value for money from a rotating seesaw if your children will use it more often. It not only works as a seesaw but as a roundabout as well.
• You can’t always stop a rotating seesaw from turning – if you’re hoping to buy a rotating seesaw and have the choice of it rotating sometimes but not others, this generally isn’t possible. Most rotating seesaws will always rotate when in use, with no way to stop the axis from turning.

Shock Absorbers

I imagine many of you reading this will remember a past incident with a seesaw, when it bumped down heavily onto the ground resulting in a sore behind. All the more probable if an older sibling was positioned on the other end in charge of the power…

Fortunately, seesaw design has moved on, and they can now come with a variety of shock absorbers to stop such bumpy landings. These are positioned under the seat, stop it from touching the ground.

Different things are used as shock absorbers, from tires to metal pillars, but they all usually have some sort of rubber cushioning.

Shock absorbers that have a larger surface area, such as a tyre, will be less likely to churn up the grass underneath the seesaw. This can help stop the area from getting too muddy.

However, it’s worth bearing in mind that the bigger the shock absorber, the less up-and-down movement the seesaw will have. This is because the shock absorber will stop the seesaw from completing its whole arc. This might be ok for younger children, but may be a little boring for older kids.

Seesaws are generally made of either wood, steel or plastic. Aesthetically, you may have a preference (some people prefer the traditional look of wood over the other two options), or one of the choices may make more sense for your situation.

Plastic Seesaws

Plastic seesaws generally take the form of rockers. These are often small enough to be used indoors or outside. If your child will mostly be using their plastic rocker indoors, it’s not as important that the plastic is UV resistant. However, if you will be placing the seesaw outside then UV-resistant plastic is good to look out for. This applies to both entirely plastic rockers, as well as wooden/metal seesaws that have some plastic components.

Steel Seesaws

Steel seesaws can be very robust. Powder-coated steel is often used in their construction which is resistant to corrosion and more durable than steel on its own. In an ideal world, if you have the space, you should still try to store your metal seesaw away when it’s not in use, even if it is made from powder-coated steel, to extend its life as much as possible.

Wooden Seesaws

If you choose a wooden version, it’s nice to check that it’s made from sustainably sourced wood. This will often mention an ‘FSC’ (The Forest Stewardship Council) certification, or the PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forestry Certification) logo. Both of these indicate that the wood has been sourced in a considered way.

It’s also a good idea to look out for pressure-treated wood. This is wood that has been treated in order to force chemical preservatives into the wood. These will make it less susceptible to rot and insect infestation. You must be careful not to burn pressure-treated wood when disposing of it, as this can release harmful substances into the air.

Wooden seesaws will generally last a very long time, although they will require a bit of maintenance. Even pressure-treated wood should be treated occasionally to seal it from moisture.

They tend to weigh more than plastic and metal seesaws and may not be possible to pack away when not in use. You should be prepared for a wooden seesaw to become more of a permanent fixture in the garden.

As will all children’s equipment, there are a lot of safety considerations to bear in mind with having a seesaw in the garden. Here’s a list of things that you should be aware of, but please note that it is not exhaustive:

• A seesaw should have at least a 2 m clearance around it.This is to prevent children from knocking into anything if they fall off. A rotating seesaw will need to have a 2 m clearance in addition to a clear radius for the rotation.
• Seesaws need to positioned on level ground. It isn’t safe to place them on a slope or bumpy lawn.
• Anchors should be used to secure the seesaw in place. Some seesaws come with these provided, but others don’t. Unless the manufacturer’s instructions state otherwise, you should anchor the seesaw in place.
• Avoid putting seesaws on concrete or hard ground. Naturally, if a child does fall, the softer the ground the better. A lawn at the very least, or protective ground covered in rubber mulch or playground bark.
• Supervise children at all times when they’re using a seesaw.